metzdorff



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. METZDORPF.

TRANSPOSER FOR KEY BOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 317,661.

Patented May '12, 1885.

Vllllillll I) wank-o V Wikne/meo 1 N, PETERS. Phulo-Lithognpher. Wilmington D. O.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' (No Model.) L. METZDORFF.

TRANSPOSBR FOR KEY BOARD MUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 317,661.

Patented May 12, 1885.

nuentdr 1 N. PETERS, PbowLima ra h-r. Wuhinglnm D. C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. METZDORFF.

TRANSPOSER FOR KEY BOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 317,661. Patented May 12, 1885.

Q: w N e Y g); "ii i Li N Nkknwom @mrmxkov Wm [WM UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUIS METZDORFF, OF OONCEPGION, GIIILI.

TRANSPOSERFOR KEY-BOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,661, dated lVIay 12, 1885.

Application filed July 12, 1884. (X0 model.) Patented in Chili S ptcmber 20, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUIs Mnrznonnn, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing in the city of Concepcion, in the Republic of Chili, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transposing Key-Boards for Musical Instruments, for which I have obtained a patent in Chili, bearing date of September 29, 1883, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of transposers in which the key-board, carrying keys to be played by the fingers of the performer and acting directly (without any intermediate devices) on the action of the piano or other instrument, isshifted transversely with reference to the action and to the strings.

The pianos or other instruments to which my invention is applied may have any number of octaves; but I provide an extra octave of direct-acting keys upon the movable keyboard in addition to the number of those octaves which in ordinary pianos would correspond to the number of strings employed. By this means I obtain a very simple transposing mechanism, which, notwithstanding its simplicity, will allow a full utilization of all the strings of the instrument in any position of the key-board or in any change of position which the key-board may be made to assume.

I have devised novel and peculiarly simple and efficient means for guiding the keyboard, for securing it in any desired position, and for liberating it when it is desired to change its position. A stationary scale is arranged in an unusually favorable position, so that a single glance suffices to ascertain the position of the key-board with reference to the strings.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent the novel parts with so much of the ordinary parts as are necessary to indicate their relation thereto.

Figure 1 is a front View, partly in section, of an upright piano embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of certain parts, the frame-work being represented in section. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the key-board.

The action of my improved piano is or may be in every respect similar to that of any ordinary piano, and does not therefore require any detailed description. It is inclosed in a frame, A, which latter is rigidly mounted on the main frame or case B in the usual wellknown manner. ceeds the number of hammers a in the action by the number of tones in one octave-that is to say, there are twelve keys more than there are hammers.

The mode of mounting the keys and of operating them when playing is the same as usually practiced; but instead of being mounted upon a fixed part of the case, these keys 0 are supported upon a separate key-board, G, which latter is capable of sliding upon the fixed por-- tion b of the case.

b are stout screws set in the part b and extending through slots 0, formed in the keyboard, said slots being preferably lined by a correspondingly shaped metal plate, 0 as shown. The screws I) serve not only to hold the key-board down upon its support I), but they also guide the key-board when it is being shifted.

D is a knob having a pin, (1, and a collar, (1, which latter is acted upon by a lever, controlled by a spring, (1, so as to hold the pin (1 engaged in one of a series of holes, 0 which latter are preferably lined by a correspond- .ingly-shaped plate, 0'.

E is a knob firmly set in the key-board O, and projecting downward through a suitablyshaped slot, 1)", in the portion 1).

F is a lever pivoted at f, and having a notch, f, near one extremity, in such position that when the knob D is depressed the lever F may be turned so that its notch f will embrace the pin (1, the collar cl then bearing against the lower face of lever 13, thus preventing the knob D from rising.

G is a scale fastened to the frame close above the keys. This scale corresponds exactly to the width of the keys in an octave, and carries the names of the notes of a full octave.

hen the performer desires to raise or low er the tone of the piano, he first liberates or unlocks the key-board by pulling the knob D downward, so as to disengage the pin (1 from that one of the holes 0 in which it has been engaged. Then he turns the leverF into position to keep the knob D depressed. He now takes hold of the knob E, and by moving the latter in the slot 6 shifts the key-board until In this opit arrives in the desired position.

The number of keys 0 ex- L oration he is aided by the scale G, as by comparing the keys with the names marked on the scale he can tell when the key-board has arrived in the desired position. Vhen this is effected,he withdraws the lever F, thus allowing spring (1 to act 011 the lever (Z whereby the knob D is pressed upward and engages its pin (2 with that hole 0 which corresponds to the new position of the key-board.

In order to prevent breakage of those parts a of the action which rest upon the keys while the latter are being shifted, the lever d is extended backward, and its rear end is engaged under a nose, h, of the rod H, as shown. This rod is the means found in all ordinary pianos for transmitting the motion of the left or soft pedal to the action, and the raising of the rod H by depressing the knob D produces exactly the same result as the depressing of the corresponding pedalviz., through the intermediate bell crank lever, a", it rocks the hammer-supporting rod a whereby the hammers are brought closerto the strings in, Fig. 2; and this motion of the hammers is comm unicated through the strings (0 to the pieces a, thus lifting the latter from off the keys 0. It will be seen that the pieces a must remain out of contact from the keys 0 so long as the knob D remains depressed, and as the key-board can only be shifted while the knob D remains thus depressed, and becomeslocked as soon as the knob D rises, allowing the parts a to fall upon the keys, it is evident that the parts cannot be broken or otherwise injured by careless handling.

Many modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principles of my invention.

Other means-such as tongues and grooves maybe employed for guiding the key-board instead of the screws 1) and slots 0.

WVith proper modifications, the invention may be applied to square and grand pianos, to organs, &c.

The pieces a may be lifted by an extra transverse rod, to which the proper up-anddown motion may be imparted by a suitable connection to the lever d.

I claim as my invention- 1. Inapiano or similar musical instrument, the combination of a relatively stationary action, a movable key-board, and a soft pedal mechanism, substantially as described and shown, with additional mechanism, as d D, arranged and connected to the soft pedal mechanism in such manner that the latter may be operated thereby, while the soft pedal is left undisturbed, such operation effecting the raising of those parts of the action that are usually in contact with the keys out of contact with the latter, all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

2. In a piano or similar musical instrument having a relatively stationary action and a movable key-board, a pin, (1, capable of1ocking and liberating said key-board, and a lever, d, adapted to lift, through suitable connections, those portions of the action which usually rest upon the keys, in combination with a knob, D d, all constructed and arranged for joint operation, so that the operation of the knob D (1' causes both the pin d and the lever (Z to perform their respective functions, substantially as herein set forth.

3. In a piano having a stationary action and a movable keyboard, and a left or soft pedal mechanism, the combination, with these parts, of the knob D d d, lever (Z spring (1, notched lever Ff, and knob E, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 14th day of April, 1884:.

LUIS METZDORFF. lVitnesses:

G. PETZOLD, HERMAN RUDOLPHI. 

